Coldrice here! I wanted to fill everyone in on the progress towards the next Interstellaria patch. Last update I mentioned it’d take a while. It’s actually taken longer than expected. Let me fill you in on why, and how to test it today!

Originally the next patch was planned as a UI reskin, and focus a bit more on other areas. As we began delving into the reskin we instead decided to TOTALLY renovate the UI and the way it functions. This renovation should allow for easier and more intuitive use AS WELL as making bug fixes and future additions a lot easier. I am very excited with how things have progressed on the coded end of things with the new UI. Due to the scope of doing this, it has taken a number of months… but we’re almost there!

So much more information in a much more simple format. Windows can be dragged, and multiple windows open at the same time. So many more neat additions that can’t be listed here, but will be listed when the patch finally goes live!

If you’re not wanting to wait, and are interested in trying it NOW NOW NOW it’s actually already been live on the beta branch! You can right click “Interstellaria” in your library and then hit “properties.” from there hit the betas tap, and swap to beta branch from there.

-WARNING-
-WARNING-

Opting into the beta WILL delete your save files! You can drag your saves out of their folder, and then back in, if you’d like though.
-END WARNING-
-END WARNING-

Alright only one week left! Lots of entries over the last week so lets dive right in!

Sir Tembetsu

Spencer Anderson

A Kursha Starship equipped with the latest particle cannon, radar technology, navigation tools, and ship analysis
programs. The armor is strong enough to withstand most missiles while still allowing good mobility.

A freighter used by the Gwof, a race of pigs, to transport their food throughout space. They highly value food in their culture,
with meat being the most important. They have some rare resources/weapons which they will gladly trade if food is offered
in exchange. Gwofs are quite lazy and slow thinking, but are very defensive and will always fight to protect their food.

Josef Gutwenger

Justin

Jim Reed

FurNut

Alright guys, remember deadline is next Tuesday! The grand prize is $50 steam card and alpha access to interstellaria!

Ok here’s the crazy idea: I’d love to get some fan designs into the game. I really like the idea incorporating “fan” designs into the final product. I feel it gives the game character. I’m also not so naive to think that I have all the best designs in the world. This is where you come in!

The mission is simple:

-Design a ship you feel fits into the Universe of Interstellaria

-Any art style is fine! I promise I wont be biased towards pixel art or anything!

-You can submit more than once! Be sure to get your artwork submitted by MARCH 11th, 2014

-I will be sharing artwork on the blog and twitter as it comes in, so stay involved!

-I’ll be selecting a winner on MARCH 12th, 2014

Now how will I reward you for your hard work?

The Prize:

–$50 steam gift card

-Access to the Interstellaria Alpha

-Your design will be in the final game!

That’s it! from here you’re free to go hog wild. I’ve written some fluff below to help you with your designs and potentially improve your chances.

———————————————————————

KURSHA VESSELS – The aquatic Kursha vessels are as cold as their designers. The kursha have little use for pleasing design. Their designs, which are very obviously influenced by submarine type vessels, are fairly boxy in appearance. The kursha once held the title of rulers and kings in the Old Empire. Many modern designs have evolved from their original designs. Kursha ships are considered fairly well armored and favor particle cannons.

HUMAN VESSELS – Human technology and design is just like their populations – a hodge podge. Although human vessels are generally on-par with the rest of the galaxy, they are also slightly primitive. They sport the largest engines which are actually the least powerful. Their space technology is mostly reverse engineered from antique alien probes, hence the large size to low power ratio. As one of the first races to succumb to the old empire (and the last to escape it) their ship designs are very similar to Kursha Vessels. Human ships tend to favor Missiles

KAIDUN VESSELS – Despite being ant-like in appearance, the Kaidun are a “hive” in culture only. Each worker is very unique and generally fairly philosophical/religious. The colors and designs of Kaidun vessels are also fairly unique. The Kaidun build their ships out of hallowed out asteroids instead of actual hulls. Though these vessels are lightly armored they are one of the few ships to feature shielding. The Kaidun do not build Corvette class ships(The smallest class) and only build large ships. These ships also favor Missiles.

ANOA VESSELS – The lizard like Anoa are considered to be the least advanced civilization. The Anoa were one of the few races to have colonized another world through generation ships. The Anoa employ Apollo-era design mixed with whatever technology other races give to them. Some have been known to have Kursha Armor, Kaidun Shielding, and powerful alien propulsion systems. At the same time, it’s not uncommon when traveling through Anoa space to find an abandoned service vehicle which had attempted to traverse space the slow way. The Anoa ships use ballistic guns for defense.

There are several other races of course – why not make up your own? A ship doesn’t have to be from one of the main races – unique events and unlocks are ALWAYS fun! Heck – include a little back-story to your ships design and it might just improve your chances!